European, Kuwaiti and Saudi scientists from the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD) in Riyadh published a report in 1993.

Running thirsty

Gulf shrimp fisheries, they said, appeared healthy, dugongs and underwater coral reefs were in good shape. The tides and the high temperatures had cleaned up the offshore marine environment.

Onshore, though, it was different - thick deposits of oil and tar coating hundreds of kilometres of Gulf coast between the tide lines and further inland. Some reports said the oil killed at least 30,000 seabirds.

The United Nations Environmental Programme says about 90% of the up to 20,000 square kilometres of marshlands have been lost because of drainage and upstream damming in "one of the world's greatest environmental disasters"

Iraq also deliberately spilt oil directly into the Gulf to foil any attempts at a landing. This affected desalination plants, and it is estimated about 30% of Kuwait's water remains unusable because of the 1991 contamination.

Jonathan Lash is president of the World Resources Institute (WRI), based in Washington DC. He told BBC News Online: "The most remarkable aspect is how quickly the region did recover.

"There are worries about the Gulf, because the water there takes almost two centuries to turn over.

"And land in Kuwait which was used for subsistence agriculture before 1991 still can't be planted.

"But the long-term consequences were less than anyone could have predicted at the time.

"However, there's no guarantee it would be the same this time. Iraq is more densely populated than Kuwait, and 40% of its people are aged under 15.

Radiation fears

"Iraqis depend on the Tigris and the Euphrates for water, which is more valuable in the region than oil. And there seem to be no limits to what they'll do under pressure."

Despite the signs of recovery, concern persists over the aftermath of the 1991 war.

Huge areas were still covered in soot in 2000. More than 300 lakes of oil had spilt from the wells during the war, and some still disfigured the Kuwaiti desert, seeping six metres (20 feet) below the surface.

Darkness at noon: Smoke shrouds Kuwait

Doctors were reporting a higher incidence of asthma, allergies and eye irritation. In Iraq itself, five times as many children were reported born with defects as in 1991.

Many Iraqis - and others - blame the depleted uranium (DU) ammunition used by the US and UK for the problems of their children and of veterans suffering from Gulf War Syndrome.

Scientists disagree about the ability of DU to cause the horrific problems reported. The World Health Organisation recommends cleaning areas with high concentrations of radioactive particles.

Another Iraqi casualty of 1991 is the Mesopotamian marshlands, drained by President Saddam Hussein after the war.

The marsh people have suffered severely, and several animal and plant species are believed to have become extinct.

Jonathan Lash told BBC News Online: "It's not the environment that should determine whether or not we go to war, but the impact on people and on world peace.

"But we need significant caution. Victory in a war with Iraq may come at too high a cost to both people and the environment."